By Lee Davis
Journal Sports Writer
When third-ranked Hoover met Class 6A Area 10 rival Thompson Friday night, Buccaneer fans didn’t have to worry about their team taking the Warriors lightly.
In their previous meeting Jan. 10, Thompson pushed Hoover to the limit before falling 71-68 in overtime. Determined to avoid a similar trap in the second game, the Bucs were determined to get off to a fast start.
“We wanted to play with more energy,” said Hoover guard Eric Dansby. “We wanted to get off to a fast start and play our game.”
The formula worked. The Bucs outscored the Warriors 16-1 in the first period and moved ahead by 28 in the third quarter before holding on to a 59-54 victory.
Thompson battled back to cut the margin to 10 with less than 1:25 to play in the game. Hoover’s DeOntaye Curtis saved the day, however, when he stole a Warrior in-bounds pass. Curtis passed to Dansby, who drew a two-shot foul call. Dansby converted two free throw attempts to raise the Bucs’ lead to 12.
The victory raised Hoover’s overall record to 22-3 and 4-0 in area play. Dansby had 15 points, four assists and four steals to pace the winners. Michael Wiesneth added 10 points.
Curtis pulled down eight rebounds, and Jerrick Rumph-Henderson added seven. Sam Hutcheson blocked three shots for the Bucs.
“We started out great but wound up playing their type of game at the end,” said Dansby. “We didn’t play quite as well as we could have.”
In other Friday night games, Vestavia Hills defeated Homewood 53-40. B.J. Houston led the Rebels with 18 points. Anton Cook added 11. The Patriots’ Nyck Young led all scorers with 20 points.
Vestavia raised its record to 11-11 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 12 play. Homewood dropped to 0-4 in area competition.
Spain Park surprised Mountain Brook 66-56. Blake Dudchock sparked the Jaguars with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rembert Martin and Robbie Prater totaled 18 and 11 points, respectively, for Spain Park. The Spartans’ Matti Sigurdarson topped all scorers with 20 points. Sean Eaton added 15 for Mountain Brook.
The Jaguars ran their record to 16-9 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 12 play.
Jason Laatsch scored 27 points to help Briarwood to a 60-41 thrashing of Shelby County. Raymond Woods contributed 13 for the Lions. Briarwood raised its record to 13-11 overall and 2-4 in Class 5A Area 8.
Shades Mountain Christian overwhelmed Holy Spirit 55-44. Jaylon Sims led the Eagles with 30 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots. Kenton Essinger added 11 points as Shades Mountain raised its record to 14-7 overall and 5-2 in Class 1A Area 8 competition.
Oak Mountain lost to Pelham 32-31. Justin Whisenant scored 10 points for the Eagles.
In girls’ play, Hoover crushed Thompson 59-19. Marqu’es Webb and Breion Allen each scored 13 points for the Lady Bucs. Webb had nine rebounds, and Allen earned seven steals.
Hoover, ranked second in Class 6A, lifted its record to 18-3 overall and 4-0 in Area 10 play.
Spain Park beat Mountain Brook 64-56. Whitney Gulledge scored 15 points for the Lady Jaguars, while Jessica Freeman and Ashley Gaston each added 14. The Lady Spartans’ Mary Katherine Pinson led all scorers with 16 points. Ellie Mouyal chipped in 14 for Mountain Brook, and Collier Ogilvie scored 13.
Spain Park saw its record rise to 16-10 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A Area 12 competition. The Lady Spartans fell to 18-6 overall and 3-1 in area play.
MacKenzie Garmany connected on a field goal and free throw in the game’s final seconds to give Oak Mountain a dramatic 32-30 win over Pelham. Hannah Griffin led the Lady Eagles with 11 points; Maegen McDanal scored 10. Oak Mountain raised its record to 16-7 overall and 2-2 in Class 6A Area 10 play.
In a Saturday boys’ game, Vestavia fell to Chelsea 46-42. B.J. Houston led the Rebel scoring with 18 points.
In girls’ play, Vestavia defeated Chelsea 37-29. Sharon Sanders sparked the win with 13 points. The win raised the Lady Rebels’ record to 9-10 for the season.
